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Bullying in the Workplace, OANHSS

Markham, OntarioSeptember 28, 2010

9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care

It is essential – ethically, morally and legally – that staff have safe work environments and have a comprehensive understanding of their rights and responsibilities with respect to workplace violence. OANHSS and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care recognize the importance of safe workplaces and have partnered to offer these regional sessions on bullying in the workplace.What is the prevalence of bullying in the workplace? Management is often unaware that bullying is going on within their organization.When “bad”or“difficult” behaviours are discussed, people tend to put them off as “interpersonal conflicts,”or excuse someone’s behaviour by saying,“it’s just their way”or “they have always been that way.”Management and labour tend to normalize negative behaviours rather than deal with them directly. By tolerating an employee’s negative and bullying behaviours, their impact on residents, staff and the organization on a whole, gives the perpetrator power and creates an organizational message that “unacceptable”behaviour is“acceptable.” Bullying expert Denise Koster will walk you through important issues, such as the cost of bullying in the workplace, the differences between harassment, discrimination and bullying, profiles of the bully and the target and how to rid your organization of this inappropriate behaviour.